Legal Definitions - vis expulsiva

Vis expulsiva refers to the use of force to expel or dispossess another individual or group from property, a position, or a location. Historically, this term described the physical power exerted to remove someone against their will.

Here are some examples illustrating vis expulsiva:

• Example 1: Unlawful Eviction
  Imagine a landlord who, without obtaining a court order, physically changes the locks on an apartment and removes a tenant's belongings from the premises because the rent is overdue. When the tenant attempts to re-enter, the landlord uses physical intimidation to prevent them.

  This situation demonstrates vis expulsiva because the landlord is employing direct physical force and actions (changing locks, removing belongings, intimidation) to dispossess the tenant from their dwelling and expel them from the property without following legal eviction procedures.

• Example 2: Historical Land Dispute
  Consider a historical scenario where two noble families dispute ownership of a fertile valley. One family sends its armed retainers to the valley, who then forcibly remove the rival family's farmers and shepherds, destroying their temporary shelters and seizing control of the land.

  Here, the actions of the armed retainers constitute vis expulsiva. They are using organized force to expel the rival family's people from the disputed territory and dispossess them of their use and control over that land.

• Example 3: Forcible Removal from Public Space
  In a historical context, if a group of citizens were peacefully occupying a public square to protest a government policy, and soldiers were dispatched to physically clear the square, using force to push the protestors out and prevent their return.

  This illustrates vis expulsiva as the soldiers are applying physical force to expel the protestors from the public space and dispossess them of their temporary occupation of that area.